August 9, 2008

What an exhausting and exhilirating day. I'm so tired, I can't do justice to the day, so let me try to recap as best I can remember:

Began the day with a tour of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square Both were unbelievably vast.

Meandered throughout the city through dozens of small neighborhoods. Anything you could have wanted (with the possible exception of a REALLY COLD beverage) could be had. Shirts, police lights, polutry and any manner of vegitables.

I'm an unbelievably finicky eater - have been my entire life and chickened out at lunch, opting for a burger. I'd have been better served rolling the dice with dumplings instead.

When you're the only tall white guy around, people stare at you and some even ask to take your picture. When you're wearing a big red white and blue top-hat this is increased by a factor of ten.

Nathaniel finally arrived.

The pool is absolutely amazing. The first guy I happened across was Jim Steen, the Kenyon Coach. We sat several rows in front of him. Warm-ups were fun to watch. It was very much like every other meet, aside from the fact that all the competitors are Olympians.

While we sat several rows in front of the Kenyon Coach, Bill Gates and Paul Allen sat in front of us - like four rows in front of us. They denied our request for a photo.

Brendan Hansen did not look good in the 100 breaststroke, the Norwegian did. It looks like a 20-year lack of gold in this event for us.

The Chinese swam very well and you find yourself cheering for them just because you like seeing the otherwise silent crowd get excited.